Find out how to easily roast turkey legs so they are perfectly cooked without having to flip them or cover them with foil. To prepare the turkey legs, mix salt, homemade spice mix, and oil together. Then, bake them at 400°F until the skin gets crispy and the meat is done.
Turkey legs also known as drumsticks, are a delicious part of the turkey that can be enjoyed year-round. Many people wait until Thanksgiving to indulge in turkey legs but they are easy to cook in the oven at home anytime you get a craving. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have juicy, flavorful baked turkey legs ready in less than 2 hours.
Things to Know Before Baking Turkey Legs
When buying turkey legs to cook at home look for legs that are similar in size so they will cook evenly. Turkey legs are sold either bone-in or boneless, but bone-in legs will have the best flavor. Plan on about 1 pound of turkey legs per person.
Make sure your turkey legs are thoroughly patted dry before seasoning and baking, Any excess moisture can cause the skin to be soggy rather than crisp Brushing the legs with oil or melted butter will help the seasonings adhere,
How to Prepare Turkey Legs for the Oven
Start with 4 bone-in, skin-on turkey legs, about 1-1 1/2 pounds each. Rinse the legs and thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels. Place the legs in a baking dish or rimmed baking sheet lined with foil for easy cleanup.
Brush both sides of the turkey legs lightly with olive oil or melted butter. This helps the seasoning stick to the skin.
Season the legs generously with salt, pepper, and other spices of your choice. Good options are garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, sage, and rosemary. Rub the seasoning all over both sides to evenly coat.
What Temperature and How Long to Bake Turkey Legs
Preheat your oven to 350°F. The cooking time will vary slightly depending on the size of the legs. Plan on baking bone-in skin-on turkey legs for 60-90 minutes.
Place the seasoned legs in the preheated 350° oven. Bake for 30 minutes initially, then flip the legs over.
Continue baking for another 30-60 minutes, flipping the legs halfway through, until the juices run clear when pierced with a fork and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
If the skin starts to get too brown before the legs are cooked through, loosely tent foil over the baking pan.
The total baking time will likely be 60-75 minutes for smaller 1 pound legs and 75-90 minutes for larger legs. Always go by temperature rather than time.
Tips for the Best Oven Baked Turkey Legs
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Brining the legs in saltwater for 1-2 hours before baking helps keep them juicy.
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For crispier skin, bake at 400°F for the first 20 minutes, then lower to 325°F to finish cooking.
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Wrapping the ends of the drumsticks in foil prevents them from overcooking.
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Placing the legs over sliced onions helps add moisture and flavor.
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Basting the legs with turkey stock or melted butter several times while baking keeps the meat from drying out.
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Letting the cooked legs rest for 10 minutes before serving allows the juices to reabsorb.
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Cooking lower and slower results in more tender, fall-off-the-bone turkey legs.
How to Tell When Turkey Legs Are Done
The best way to test doneness is by using a meat thermometer. Turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the leg.
Signs turkey legs are fully cooked:
- The juices run clear when pricked with a fork
- The meat has pulled away from the bone
- The internal temperature reads 165°F
If undercooked, the turkey meat will look pink and the juices will be red rather than clear. Cook longer until the safe internal temperature is reached.
What to Serve with Baked Turkey Legs
Baked turkey legs pair well with many classic holiday side dishes like:
- Roasted vegetables – potatoes, carrots, parsnips
- Stuffing or dressing
- Cranberry sauce
- Gravy – turkey or chicken gravy works well
- Dinner rolls
They also go great with hearty sides like:
- Baked beans
- Coleslaw
- Mac and cheese
- Collard greens
- Cornbread
The possibilities are endless for amazing turkey leg meal combinations perfect for autumn and winter.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Turkey Legs
Cooked turkey legs will keep refrigerated for 3-4 days. They can be stored covered in aluminum foil or in an airtight container. Reheat leftovers in a 350°F oven until heated through, about 20-30 minutes.
For longer freezer storage, wrap legs tightly in plastic wrap and foil and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Baked turkey legs are easy to make any time of year when you get the craving for this delicious fall-off-the-bone treat. With proper seasoning and following cooking times and the temperature guidelines, you can enjoy perfect oven roasted turkey legs at home.
About roasting turkey legs
Turkey legs are great when you don’t need a whole turkey for your family or just like dark turkey meat better.
If you prefer white turkey meat, try our roasted split turkey breast.
When it comes to chicken, wing, leg, and of course turkey legs, I love them all with the bones still in them. I often enjoy experimenting with various methods for preparing these delicious and juicy cuts.
I shared this recipe for air-fried turkey thighs last year. It’s also a family favorite.
I usually make 2 turkey legs for three of us (including one kid). But if you plan on serving them to your guests, prepare at least 1 whole drumstick per person.
I like a simpler method where I don’t have to flip, cover, and uncover them with aluminum foil, which means I don’t have to touch the hot pan more than once.
For less mess, I just use a high-sided glass dish or a roasting pan lined with parchment paper to roast turkey legs. It gives the legs a deep, shallow space to bake evenly while leaving the skin out for the perfect crispiness.
Of course, the length of time they need to roast will depend on how big their legs are; some can be very big. But I also saw that the cooking time changes depending on the type of pan you use (deep or regular) and whether you cover the meat.
From my experience, a regular baking sheet pan takes the least time. But the meat might turn out dry. That’s why I like to use a deep dish and roast them without covering them. It’s easy, they stay juicy, and the skin gets deliciously crispy.
You can find the quantities for each ingredient in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Turkey legs: fresh turkey drumsticks with the skin on. If you have frozen ones, let them defrost in the fridge overnight. You can also use this recipe to make turkey wings or thighs.
Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil. You can also use melted butter or a combination of both.
Spices and salt: I used my favorite homemade spice mix, which is made of black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, and a little cayenne pepper if you want it.
If you want, you can add fresh rosemary. It gives the meat an extra pine-like, woodsy smell that makes the whole house smell great while you roast the meat. You can also use other fresh herbs, such as sage, thyme, and Italian parsley.
1). Remove the legs from the fridge at least 15 minutes before baking them. Very cold meat will coon unevenly. Carefully, pat dry the legs on both sides with paper towels to get rid of access moisture. Especially, if they were thawed.
2). In a small bowl mix, salt, and the dried herbs. Brush each leg with some olive oil on both sides. You can also use melted butter. Rub the meat generously with the spice mix on all the sides.
3). Line a deep glass baking dish (or a roasting pan) with a large sheet of parchment paper. Place the legs in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with some fresh chopped rosemary on top. I usually break it into smaller pieces with my hands.
4). Roast turkey legs in a preheated oven (400°F) for about 60-70 minutes. After an hour, carefully remove the pan from the heat and insert the instant meat thermometer into the thickest part to see if they are fully cooked. If the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F, the meat is cooked.
Otherwise, place it back in the oven and check again in about 10 minutes. Let the meat rest before serving for about 10 minutes.
- If you want to use my homemade spice mix (see recipe card), you can. But you can also use any of your favorite spices or poultry dry rub from the store.
- Use an instant-read thermometer instead of cutting a cooked leg just to make sure it’s done.
- You can keep turkey meat that you don’t need right away in the fridge for up to three to four days or freeze it for up to three months.
- How long the turkey legs take to cook will depend on their size, the type of baking pan you use, and the type of oven you have.
Like any other poultry meat, there are so many ways you can serve this oven-roasted turkey leg. Below, I share a few of my and my familys favorite ways:
- As part of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, serve them with things like stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted green beans or sweet potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce.
- Turkey meat is a simple and tasty dinner idea that I like to serve with rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables as a main dish.
- If you have turkey leg meat left over, you can make soup, add it to salads and sandwiches, or make tacos and quesadillas with it.
- Bone broth: Save the bones and make some turkey bone broth. Just put in some water, whole vegetables, and herbs, and cook on low for a few hours.
Marinating is optional, but it can enhance the flavor of the meat. After putting the turkey legs in the fridge for a few hours or overnight, you can season them with the spice mix and then roast them.
Depending on the size of each leg, it takes between 1 to 1. 5 hours to roast the turkey legs at 400°F.
Yes, you can roast them at 350°F but be prepared for a cooking time approximately 30 minutes longer.
If you have frozen turkey legs, it is recommended to thaw them overnight in the fridge before cooking. Cooking the meat from frozen will take much longer time and may result in uneven cooking.
A mix of salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, dried thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, and sage is my favorite simple seasoning.
Oven Baked Turkey Legs | Easy Baked Turkey Legs | Ray Mack’s Kitchen & Grill
FAQ
What temperature should a turkey leg be cooked at?
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